Retractable awning structure

ABSTRACT

A retractable awning structure providing a convexly curved exterior surface formed with a pair of scissor-type expansion members each having a plurality of upwardly and outwardly inclined elements and having the corresponding downwardly and outwardly inclined elements pivotally connected to each other below the midpoints thereof, and a fabric cover supported by said expansion members.

United States Patent [19] Palmer 1 Tune 5, 1973 [54] RETRACTABLE AWNING STRUCTURE [76] Inventor: Timothy Hoyt Palmer, 6714 South 1680 East, Salt Lake City, Utah 84121 [22] Filed: June 17, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 154,096

[52] U.S. Cl. ..l60/70, 160/79, 160/342 [51] Int. Cl. ..E04f 10/06 [58] Field of Search ..160/70, 342, 78,

{56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS lsley ..160/70 X Janowsky 1 60/78 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 197,967 6/1907 Germany ..160/342 Primary Examiner-Kenneth Downey Att0rneyLynn G. Foster [57] ABSTRACT A retractable awning structure providing a convexly curved exterior surface formed with a pair of scissortype expansion members each having a plurality of upwardly and outwardly inclined elements and having the corresponding downwardly and outwardly inclined elements pivotally connected to each other below the midpoints thereof, and a fabric cover supported by said expansion members.

1 Claim, 6 Drawing Figures 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIGI INVENTOR. TIMOTHY HOYT PALMER TORNEY Patented June 5, 1973 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

TIMOTHY HOYT PALMER BY 2 2 ATTORNEY RETRACTABLE AWNING STRUCTURE BACKGROUND 1. Field of Invention:

This invention relates to awnings and is particularly directed to a retractable awning structure providing a curved exterior surface.

2. Prior Art The use of awnings has long been known for shading and decorating windows, patios and the like; and both fixed and retractable awnings have been proposed. Retractable awnings are advantageous since they can generally be adjusted to provide shade from direct sun while allowing a maximum amount of ambient light to reach the window. Moreover, the retractable awnings need not be in the extended position during wind storms, hail storms, and the like and, hence, can be made to outlast the fixed awnings. On the other hand, while innumerable patterns can be employed in awning fabrics and fixed awnings can be configured in substantially any desired manner, the overall configuration of retractable awnings has usually been restricted to either a straight slope or a generally triangular shape, as viewed from the side. Moreover, most retractable awnings, when in the fully extended position, have required support members which extend generally horizontally from the lowermost portion of the awning to the wall of the house or the like and, hence, have limited the height of people or objects which could pass under the awning.

BRIEF SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION These disadvantages of prior art awnings are overcome with the present invention and a novel retractable awning structure is provided which presents a convexly curved configuration and provides maximum clearance for people and objects passing thereunder.

The advantages of the present invention are preferably attained by providing a retractable awning structure employing scissor-type expansion members having the cross pieces thereof pivoted together below the centerline of the expansion member, together with a retractable fabric cover, and means for driving said expansion members to extend or retract the awning.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved awning structure.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved retractable awning structure.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an awning that may be adjustably operated by a motive power, such as an electrically driven geared mechanism, as by operating switches inside a building, thus obviating the need for one to leave the inside of a building to lower or raise the awning.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an awning which by simple means may be conveniently adjusted to rest at any desired degree of retraction or expansion.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a retractable awning structure having a convexly curved configuration when viewed from the side.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a retractable awning structure having maximum clearance for people or objects passing thereunder.

A specific object of the present invention is to provide a retractable awning structure employing scissortype expansion members having the cross pieces thereof pivoted together below the center-line of the expansion members, together with a retractable fabric cover, and means for driving said expansion members to extend or retract the awning.

These and other objects and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, taken with reference to the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective showing an awning structure embodying the present invention in a partially extended position;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the awning structure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation showing the awning structure of FIG. 1 in its retracted position;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the awning structure of FIG. 1 in its fully extended positron;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section through the fabric reel of the awning structure of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a detail of the device of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT In that form of the present invention chosen for purposes of illustration, FIG. 1 shows a retractable awning, indicated generally at 2, having a pair of scissor-type expansion members, indicated generally at 4, joined by a plurality of fabric support rods 6 which. support'the awning fabric 8.

Each of the scissor-type expansion members 4 is formed of a plurality of downwardly and outwardly inclined elements 10 and a plurality of upwardly and outwardly inclined elements 12. The innermost one of the downwardly inclined elements 10, indicated at 14, has its upper end 16 pivotally secured to the upper end of a vertically extending anchor bar 18, while the lower end 20 of downwardly inclined element 14 is pivotally secured to the lower end of the second one of the upwardly inclined elements 12. The second one of the downwardly inclined elements 10, indicated at 22, has its upper end pivotally connected to the upper end of the innermost of the upwardly inclined elements 12, as seen at 24; while the lower end of second downwardly inclined element 22 is pivotally connected to the lower end of the third upwardly inclined element 12, as seen at 26. Similarly, the third downwardly inclined element 10 has its upper end pivoted to the upper end of the second upwardly inclined element 12 and has its lower end pivoted to the lower end of the fourth upwardly inclined element 12, etc. As best seen in FIG. 6, the lower end 30 of the innermost one 32 of the upwardly inclined elements 12 is pivotally connected to a rod 34 which extends through a hole 36 in the upper end of a drive shaft 38 and through an elongated slot 40 in the lower end of anchor bar 18. The opposite end of the rod 34 extends through identical structure on the other of the scissor-type extension members 4 and the rod 34 is retained at each end by suitable means such as nut 42. Intermediate their lengths, at a point slightly below the midpoints thereof, the innermost downwardly inclined element 14 is pivotally secured to the innermost upwardly inclined element 32, as seen at 44. Similarly, each of the downwardly inclined elements is pivotally connected to the corresponding one of the upwardly inclined elements 12 at a point slightly below the midpoints thereof, as seen at 46.

The anchor bars 18 are secured to a wall 48 or the like by suitable means, such as brackets 50. A pair of pinion gears 52 are mounted for rotation with a shaft 54 and are in driving engagement with racks 56 formed on drive shafts 38. The shaft 54 is journalled in braces 58 which also support the drive shafts 38 for vertical sliding movement. A prime mover, such as crank 60, or other motivative force, such as electrically powered geared mechanism is connected to rotate shaft 54. Finally, a retractable fabric reel 62 is mounted adjacent the upper ends of the anchor bars 18 by suitable means, such as brackets 64, and awning fabric 8 has one end thereof secured to reel 62, while the other end thereof extends over fabric support rods 6 and is secured to the outer fabric support rod 66 in any suitable manner. As seen in FIG. 5, the retractable fabric reel 62 is provided with an internal spring 68 which serves to rewind the reel 62 in the manner of a conventional window shade reel.

In use, the awning structure 2 is stored in the retracted position, as seen in FIG. 3. To extend the awning structure 2, crank 60 is actuated to rotate pinion gears 52 in a manner to cause drive shafts 38 to move upward and force the scissor-type expansion members 4 to extend, as seen in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4. However, be-

cause the corresponding downwardly and upwardly inclined elements 10 and 12 of the scissor-type expansion members 4 are pivoted below their center-lines, as seen at 46, the scissor-type expansion members 4 will define a downwardlyv directed convex curve as they extend, as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 4. Moreover, when fully extended, as seen in FIG. 4, the elements 10 and 12 of the scissor-type expansion members 4 will lie closely within the periphery of the curve defined by the awning fabric 8. Hence, there will be no obstruction to passage of people or objects under the awning. To retract the awning structure 2, the crank 60 is actuated to rotate pinion gears 52, in the opposite direction, to drive drive shafts 38 downwardly, causing the scissor-type expansion members 4 to contract.

Obviously, numerous variations and modifications may be made without departing from the present invention. Accordingly, it should be clearly understood that the form of the present invention described above and shown in the accompanying drawing is illustrative only and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A retractable awning structure providing a convexly curved exterior surface consisting essentially of:

a pair of scissor-type expansion members, each comprising a lazy tong structure composed of a plurality of substantially coplanar elements, a first substantially half of said elements being directed gen erally upwardly and outwardly and a second substantially half of said elements being directed generally downwardly and outwardly, half of said first elements being alternately disposed with half of said second elements in each of said expansion members to form two substantially coplanar zig-zag 4 extensions in side-by-side relation, with the first elements of one of said zig-zag extensions crossing over the second elements of the other of said zigzag extensions at pivot points located downwardly of the midpoints of the respective elements and vice versa;

means pivotally joining the lower ends of said first elements to proximate lower ends of respectively adjacent ones of said second elements;

a plurality of first transverse members extending between said expansion members, intermediate ones of said first transverse members pivotally joining the upper ends of said first elements to proximate upper ends of adjacent ones of said second elements;

means pivotally joining, at said pivot point, each of said first elements with a related one of said second elements crossed thereby;

a pair of mounting bracket means adapted to be secured to a structure upon which said awning is to be mounted, with one of said pair secured a transverse distance from the other of said pair;

a pair of anchor bars, each fixed to a related one of said mounting bracket means, each having an elongated slot extending vertically along substantially the entire length thereof;

a second transverse member extending between said anchor bars and having the opposite ends thereof disposed in related ones of said elongated slots, the downward end of an innermost one of said first elements in each of said expansion members engaging said second transverse member and adapted to be raised vertically upward in response to said second transverse member sliding upwardly in said elon gated slots;

a third transverse member extending between the upper ends of said anchor bars, the upper end of an innermost one of said second elements in each of said expansion members engaging said third transverse member, whereby raising said second transverse member in said slot will cause said expansion members to become extended,

a pair of rack drive shafts having teeth, the upper end of each of said drive shafts engaging said second transverse member in a manner that raising of said drive shafts causes said second transverse member to slide upwardly in said elongated slots, the lower end of each of said drive shafts being vertically slideably journaled in a related one of said mounting bracket means;

a pair of pinion gears, each joumaled for rotation on a related one of said mounting bracket means in driving engagement relationship with a corresponding one of said drive shafts, said gears being interconnected for common rotation;

means for rotating said gears to thereby extend and contract said expansion members;

a spring loaded take-up roller rotatably disposed on said mounting bracket means;

and a flexible awning covering connected to said spring loaded roller and a distal one of said first transverse members and supported by said intermediate first transverse members. 

1. A retractable awning structure providing a convexly curved exterior surface consisting essentially of: a pair of scissor-type expansion members, each comprising a lazy tong structure composed of a plurality of substantially coplanar elements, a first substantially half of said elements being directed generally upwardly and outwardly and a second substantially half of said elements being directed generally downwardly and outwardly, half of said first elements being alternately disposed with half of said second elements in each of said expansion members to form two substantially coplanar zig-zag extensions in side-by-side relation, with the first elements of one of said zig-zag extensions crossing over the second elements of the other of said zig-zag extensions at pivot points located downwardly of the midpoints of the respective elements and vice versa; means pivotally joining the lower ends of said first elements to proximate lower ends of respectively adjacent ones of said second elements; a plurality of first transverse members extending between said expansion members, intermediate ones of said first transverse members pivotally joining the upper ends of said first elements to proximate upper ends of adjacent ones of said second elements; means pivotally joining, at said pivot point, each of said first elements with a related one of said second elements crossed thereby; a pair of mounting bracket means adapted to be secured to a structure upon which said awning is to be mounted, with one of said pair secured a transverse distance from the other of said pair; a pair of anchor bars, each fixed to a related one of said mounting bracket means, each having an elongated slot extending vertically along substantially the entire length thereof; a second transverse member extending between said anchor bars and having the opposite ends thereof disposed in related ones of said elongated slots, the downward end of an innermost one of said first elements in each of said expansion members engaging said second transverse member and adapted to be raised vertically upward in response to said second transverse member sliding upwardly in said elongated slots; a third transverse member extending between the upper ends of said anchor bars, the upper end of an innermost one of said second elements in each of said expansion members engaging said third transverse member, whereby raising said second transverse member in said slot will cause said expansion members to become extended, a pair of rack drive shafts having teeth, the upper end of each of said drive shafts engaging said second transverse member in a manner that raising of said drive shafts causes said second transverse member to slide upwardly in said elongated slots, the lower end of each of said drive shafts being vertically slideably journaled in a related one of said mounting bracket means; a pair of pinion gears, each journaled for rotation on a related one of said mounting bracket means in driving engagement relationship with a corresponding one of said drive shafts, said gears being interconnected for common rotation; means for rotating said gears to thereby extend and contract said expansion members; a spring loaded take-up roller rotatably disposed on said mounting bracket means; and a flexible awning covering connected to said spring loaded roller and a distal one of said first transverse members and supported by said intermediate first transverse members. 